TB Outbreak at Summerlin Hospital Spurs Several Lawsuits

A tuberculosis outbreak in Summerlin Hospital last year, in the Neonatal Intensive care unit, has prompted nearly 200 people to file a lawsuit alleging they have been impacted by the hospital and its poor practices.

Thousands of people were notified by The Southern Nevada Health District of potential exposure to tuberculosis (TB) after the deaths of a mother and infant because of the disease.

The lawsuits claims the hospital owes them something for the heartache that they endured when they were carelessly exposed to TB.

In total, the families of 140 infants were contacted by SNHD to be tested for tuberculosis. To date, sixty-one people have been diagnosed with the potentially life-threatening disease. It allegedly all started when one woman, with the disease, was permitted into the NICU at Summerlin Hospital.

The hospital has been served with a lawsuit that names eight plaintiffs which includes family members and staff members with tuberculosis, as well as the parents of babies who needed testing. At this time, however, the infants are too young for an accurate TB test. According to lawyers, there very well may be more than eight plaintiffs and this could just be the start.

The families say, “The testing and precautionary treatment is miserable.”

Summeriline is denying the allegations and they plan to defend itself in court.

If not treated properly, TB disease can be fatal. TB disease was once the leading cause of death in the United States.